NFL Draft Mix 2025: Greatest and worst from defensive backs and tight ends

The second day of the 2025 NFL Mix introduced us some memorable moments. We had guys operating beneath the 4.3 second mark within the 40-yard sprint, some unimaginable jumps and the debut (?) of a brand new title for a drill that’s been used for a very long time.

So who or what stood out when the DBs and TEs examined?

• Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston holds the momentary title of quickest man of the NFL Mix. He blazed a 4.28 second 40-yard sprint and appeared easy and easy throughout positional drills. I had him in my high 50, nearer to the second spherical vary than the primary, however along with his athletic testing he may go larger. Actually like him on defenses that play extra off protection, the place he can use his fluid hips and velocity to trace passes deep or bounce routes beneath.

• Texas CB Jahdae Barron answered a giant query for me on Friday. He got here out and ran a 4.39 official 40-yard sprint, a vital quantity for him. I used to be frightened a bit about his lengthy velocity, and he emphatically answered that. He may most likely survive on the surface, however I feel he’s at his finest within the slot as a nickel, affecting the run and passing sport along with his instincts and physicality. He didn’t do positional drills, however he didn’t actually need to immediately.
• I’m actually intrigued by Iowa State CB Darien Porter. Former wideout, doesn’t have a number of snaps on the surface (however is an ace particular teamer), he ran a 4.3 40 yard sprint and likewise confirmed good motion abilities within the backpedal drills. He’s a man I’m going to get again to after the Mix.
• Ditto for the Rutgers CB Robert Longerbeam. Had some good jumps with a 36.5 inch vertical bounce and a 11’2 broad bounce, then ran a 4.39 40-yard sprint. He additionally moved rather well in drills. He’s a bit undersized at 5’10, however what is going to his tape say? We’ll need to go discover out.

• Two extra undersized cornerbacks I’ve had my eye on that stood out yesterday: Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish and Western Kentucky’s Upton Stout. Each profile extra as slot defenders, however ran nicely and moved nicely in drills. Stout was hoopin’, he’s gonna play within the league for a very long time.
• FSU CB Azareye’h Thomas didn’t check, however I assumed he actually opened up nicely within the drills. I’m tremendous excessive on Thomas as a size and dimension press man nook. Groups will likely be focused on spherical 1.
• Ole Miss CB Trey Amos additionally answered a number of questions with a 4.43 40. I used to be frightened about his lengthy velocity, however he silenced a few of these doubts.
• Bear in mind how athletic Seattle Seahawks’ CB Riq Woolen appeared on the Mix popping out of UTSA? Nicely there’s one other one from the Roadrunners, Zah Frazier. Frazier ran a 4.36 40-yard sprint, jumped nicely and total moved rapidly. Gonna have to return and watch his tape as nicely.
• South Carolina security Nick Emmanwori. That’s all.

• I’m a giant fan of Oklahoma security Billy Bowman Jr. Though he’s undersized, he performs very equally to Arizona Cardinals’ S Budda Baker. Operating a 4.43 is a superb time for him, and I feel a staff is gonna discover a high quality starter on Day 2 of the draft.
• Individuals are going to overthink Georgia S Malaki Starks’ 40 time (4.5–which isn’t unhealthy in any respect, identical time as Falcons’ security Jessie Bates), however have a look at these GPS scores.

Looks like an awesome athlete to me.

• Texas S Andrew Mukuba operating a 4.46 can also be a superb quantity. I feel he’s gone sorta below the radar, however his vary is backed up by the run. He’s acquired a little bit of a smaller body and he’s a little bit of a reckless tackler, however he may very well be similar to Texans’ rookie S Calen Bullock.
• Kansas State S Marques Sigle–can SCOOT. He ran a 4.37 40-yard sprint, however on tape he strikes even quicker than that.
• Navy S Rayuan Lane III didn’t blaze the quickest 40, however man he appeared good in drills. It’s at all times tough to grade athletic testing for service academies as a result of their athletic requirements are MUCH completely different from the NFL, however Lane had some good motion abilities. Think about me intrigued.
• Wisconsin DB Hunter Wohler didn’t run the quickest 40, however his 3-cone time was elite and his GPS scores within the gauntlet had been second behind Starks. I noticed him in Cell on the Senior Bowl, and he didn’t seem like a linebacker there, both. Good day for him within the drills.
• Clearly, lacking Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren harm the instances, however a few of these tight finish 40-yard dashes…WOOF.
• Essentially the most polarizing prospect on the place is Bowling Inexperienced TE Harold Fannin Jr. Jr.’s Mix was the epitome of “it’s so over/we’re so again.” Weighing in at 241 (larger than he was listed at–we’re so again), he ran a 4.71 40-yard sprint (it’s so over). A 4.39 quick shuttle and 6.97 3-cone are sick numbers for a decent finish (we’re so again), however a 9’10 broad bounce could be very meh (it’s so over). Fannin ran routes and the gauntlet rather well (we’re so again), but additionally blocked like this (it’s so over):

In the end, I feel the dialog round Fannin has gone too far in each instructions. Is he a primary spherical participant? Most likely not. Is he a helpful participant within the NFL? Completely. I’m nonetheless holding on to my inventory in Fannin, who could be the topic of a narrative in a while.

• The largest winner of the tight finish drills is Oregon TE Terrence Ferguson. Ferguson ran a 4.63 40-yard sprint, had the quickest max velocity within the 40 and jumped 39 inches within the vert. On high of that, he was one of many higher tight ends within the blocking and receiving drills. Tight finish is a spot had been one of the best athletes typically translate instantly, so Ferguson may have a shot within the NFL.
• Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans is a man I’ve had my eye on since 2023. He’s a confirmed blocker in Notre Dame’s highly effective run sport, and I feel he was a bit underutilized throughout his time as a receiving possibility. He moved nicely on Friday, may very well be a greater professional than faculty participant.
• Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers can MOVE, y’all. Highest most acceleration within the quick shuttle and quickest total in each areas, plus he moved nicely as a receiver. He’s seen a number of targets, each at Tech and Arizona State, and his quick space burst may very well be one thing I am going again and search for on his tape.
• As a cardholding member of the Texas TE Gunnar Helm fan membership, it was a BRUTAL day. A 4.84 40 yard sprint isn’t a good time for a 241 pound tight finish, and neither is a 30-inch vertical. Whereas these are very unhealthy for a decent finish, Helm’s sport is predicated round contact steadiness and savvy. I’m nonetheless a fan, however man it was a tough go of it for Helm.
• LSU TE Mason Taylor appeared like one of the best athlete on the market, and he didn’t even run or check. Simply watch this gauntlet drill:

Like butter.

• Iowa TE Luke Lachey is one other man I’m gonna return and watch tape on. You possibly can stroll by means of a cornfield in Iowa and discover an NFL tight finish, and Lachey undoubtedly has the motion abilities to be the following good one. His receiving numbers are very meh, however may that be as a result of Iowa doesn’t throw it? Let’s go discover out!
• Alabama TE/FB Robbie Ouzts has the best mustache of all time: